“In your office,” Ransom grits through clenched teeth. “We agreed to limiting the number of people who come up here.”
I nod as I reach for a hair tie and start pulling my hair up. “Yes, and that number has gone from four to five, if you don’t count the three of us. I don’t really think that’s some huge jump.”
There’s a long pause while my brother and I stare at each other, the sound of the ball thumping against the wall and Leon’s boots hitting each other the only thing anyone can hear.
Until my alpha lets his ADHD get the best of him.
“You two, Cole, who I’ve yet to meet, his adorable little sister at reception, and who else? That’s four.” He catches the ball and double checks his count on his fingers. “I make five. We’re missing three. Then again, maybe they aren’t missing. Maybe they’re right under my nose. Maybe… Oh my god. It’s Stevie Nicks and David Bowie, isn’t it? Well, that’s only two. And David Bowie is dead, so it’s only one, really. Do you have Stevie Nicks on payroll? I doubt she’d work here, not that there’s anything wrong with?—”
“Would you shut the fuck up?” Ransom snaps before he lifts his hands, closes his eyes, and starts massaging his temples. “You really had to fall for this shithead?”
Leon flashes me a grin as my cheeks heat and I smile.
I fell fast for him, I know I did, but I haven’t said as much. Not in those words, or any other that allude to love but the feeling is there. That’s why Ran said that. He knows it’s where I’m at because he knows me.
This isn’t exactly how I wanted to tell Leon I’ve fallen in love with him, though.
Second hand through my idiot big brother takes away from the sentiment.
“Cole isn’t in yet.”
I pull my eyes away from my practically beaming alpha and turn to my brother. “Okay?”
“Tanner is waiting for him. They were supposed to meet before we opened to go over a replacement for the asshole we fired last night.”
The asshole who was harassing our dancers when he thought no one was looking.
Unfortunately for him, there isn’t one inch of this club that isn’t monitored in some way, and Cole oversees all of it. He didn’t hesitate to fire the alpha who was fucking around the second he saw it, but Cole doesn’t like loose ends.
We have a pretty big fucking staff here, a lot of security to keep our omegas safe so it’s not like that loss hurt us, but that’s exactly how he’ll view one less alpha on our team. A loose end he wants tied up tight into a knot. Which is why he was going to meet with Tanner, and possibly Alexei.
Those are two of the people my alpha is still trying to account for in his head based on the confused puppy look he’s got going on.
But Cole probably wanted to get Tanner’s read on borrowing an alpha from Alexei’s guys until we permanently fill the position, then I’d probably get pulled in to start a search for an outside interview.
Not our first rodeo, and this is Cole’s department so I’m not really sure why my brother is bugging me about it.
Then again, I know exactly why.
Cole is my best friend and has been since we were four. We talk every day outside of the club, and work well together here. He’s almost like another brother to me. A tan, blond, clean cut, slightly militant brother who doesn’t have one single drop of Irish blood in his body, but a brother all the same.
I do not, however, keep tabs on him.
“Maybe try calling him?”
Ransom blows out a breath and rolls his eyes. “You think I’d come in your stank ass office if I haven’t already tried that?”
I shrug a shoulder. “I don’t fucking know. Ask Salem. Maybe she knows what her brother is up to.”
“She’s not here yet, either.”
My stomach twists a little at that.
Ransom has known them as long as I have and I know he cares about the English siblings but he’s also an introverted dickhead who keeps to himself and avoids heavy shit if he can.
He doesn’t know what they have going on with their mom and I’d put money on that being the reason they’re both late to work.
“I’ll get a hold of him.” I frown as Ransom’s eyes shift between mine momentarily, concern flashing in those dark gray orbs. “I’m sure he’s fine.”
